About

About the event

The 35th edition of the Topeka to Auburn Half-marathon will take place January 21, 2017. The race has been staged the third Saturday of January over the years and features a 10 AM start time in hopes of utilizing the mildest part the day. This race is one of the most challenging half-marathons around considering the course and the uncertainty of mid-January weather in Kansas.

The race course is point-to-point, starting at Indian Hills Elementary and finishing at the Auburn Fire Station on east 10th Street in Auburn.

If the course is not daunting enough, the conditions the day of the race may be. The unpredictability of Kansas weather is a certainty, even during the middle of winter. With the course traversing mainly north to south and with a predominately north or northwesterly wind, there is usually a tail or side wind. That normally means colder temperatures. Race day has featured temperatures as low as the single digits and readings well below zero with the wind chill factored in. Conversely, there has been occasion when the sky has been clear and under bright sunshine mid-day temperatures reached into the 50s or 60s and shorts and singlets were the apparel norm. Snow, sleet, or even rain before or during the event is also a possibility and that means there could be some footing issues to consider. Paved roads are generally manageable, but the country roads can often become a sloppy mess or may be mostly ice covered.

So, why does someone run this race? It could be because of the challenge and the feeling of accomplishment when completed. It’s a good way to begin each new year and a great way to start preparations for other spring long-distance events. The Topeka to Auburn half-marathon is the only event of its kind in the area during the middle of the winter season. The participant numbers have steadily grown throughout the years and the majority of those who have run the race keep coming back year after year.